• Illustration: Six Sigma Template for Project

In an effort to encourage customers to make more use of Microsoft business desktop software, particularly Project, Microsoft is releasing free add-on tools for project managers involved in Six Sigma business process design, accounting, human resources, marketing, and government operations. The company is also releasing a set of templates and resource guides for FrontPage, Project, and Visio users who work in specific vertical markets. The add-on tools are part of a major thrust at Microsoft to increase loyalty to Office-related products by helping customers use the software more effectively.

(For more information about this strategy, see "Information Worker Focus of New Client Plans" on page 26 of the Oct. 2002 Update.)

Accelerator for Six Sigma

The Accelerator for Six Sigma is a free download that provides added functionality for Office to help teams design and manage business processes that follow the Six Sigma framework. Six Sigma is a business process methodology aimed at ensuring high-quality business planning and operations. The name comes from a statistical measure of standard deviation and implies a defect rate of less than four parts per million. (Microsoft has begun to employ Six Sigma methods internally.)

One of the first integrated solutions to emerge from Microsoft's new Information Worker/New Markets group, the Accelerator includes templates for Office XP, Project 2002 Professional and Server, and Visio, as well as documentation. The tools map these applications to Six Sigma’s five phases—define, measure, analyze, improve, and control (DMAIC)—and help Six Sigma managers track projects and costs, manage Six Sigma teams, collaborate as a team, report project status, and train new team members.

For example, interactive Six Sigma guides for Project lead Six Sigma teams through each DMAIC project phase. Red, green, and yellow indicators that can be applied to various project parameters, such as a budget, schedule, or resource use, tell teams whether they are on schedule (green), starting to run behind (yellow), or are very behind (red).

The Accelerator also includes browser-based dashboards for viewing business "scorecards." These display financial performance metrics and provide automated reporting tools (using PowerPoint) that allow executives to track the financial impact of Six Sigma projects on a daily basis.

The Accelerator can also be used by solution providers to assist clients who are implementing Six Sigma processes.

The Accelerator works with tools from Microsoft partners such as Apriso, which develops collaboration and supply-chain solutions, and SigmaPro, a supplier of Six Sigma software. Both companies were involved in developing the Accelerator for Six Sigma and are among the partners who will provide Six Sigma training and deployment services.

The Accelerator, which also requires SQL Server 2000 and SharePoint Team Services, is expected to be available in May.

Right Tools Toolkit

The Right Tools Toolkit is a free set of templates and resource guides aimed at specific vertical markets: accounting and finance, government, human resources, marketing and sales, and project management.

The toolkit is designed to work with FrontPage 2002, Project Standard 2002, and Visio 2002.

Microsoft is also sponsoring a series of Web-based seminars from February through June that demonstrate use of the toolkit in each vertical, and offering rebates of up to US$50 on FrontPage, Project Standard, and Visio during the promotion, which runs until June 30, 2003.

More information and an order form for the toolkit is available at www.msrighttools.com.